Robina Events Centre are leading the way in eco-friendly events.
Robina Events Centre are leading the way in eco-friendly events.
From networking events to nuptials, it’s always advantageous to keep abreast of the various function and event spaces on offer on the GC – particularly if you’re an email slinging, card-carrying member of the corporate world.
If you’re in the latter camp, you probably understand all too well that an events venue that ticks all the boxes can be surprisingly hard to come by, which is why you need to know about Robina Events Centre – a state-of-the-art, sustainably minded event space.
Centrally located within TAFE Queensland Robina campus, the innovative venue is one of the newest, and most exciting additions to our events scene. In the few short years since its inception in 2021, Robina Events Centre (REC) has set the bar as a progressive space shaking up the way professionals meet and connect on the Coast.
In our constantly changing corporate landscape, the needs of businesses and professionals are as diverse as they are ever evolving. With everything from environmental practices to tech requirements to consider – REC boasts a variety of versatile facilities and spaces – including eight multi-purpose function rooms that can effortlessly adapt to events of all scales and types.
It’s a forward thinking approach to sustainability that really sets Robina Events Centre apart, with a refreshing, future-focused ethos at the forefront of everything they do. Of the extensive facilities on offer, the largest is the magnificent Anna Rose Room. With the capacity to facilitate up to 300 guests, the multi-purpose, pillarless room has been designed with flexibility in mind – adapting to a multitude of configurations or dividing down to suit smaller functions.
The REC perks also extend to a variety of cutting-edge amenities – such as an expansive foyer, a fully equipped interactive demonstration kitchen, a purpose-built theatre, breakout rooms, a rooftop bar and restaurant and on-site cafe… the perfect pick-me-up to keep the inspiration flowing after a day of corporate hijinks.
For entities and individuals who are also passionate about championing eco-conscious practices, it’s in this area that the change-leading REC shines brighter than a (renewably powered) spotlight on a keynote speaker. Fitted with 250 solar panels and dedicated EV charging stations, the venue has been thoughtfully designed to minimise environmental impact, in addition to ongoing sustainability measures, such as menus designed around locally sourced produce, closed loop composting and plastic-free practices.
It’s an ethos that’s evident everywhere you look- right down to the array of projectors and digital sharing options fitted throughout. The venue has also opted for eco-conscious materials wherever possible, such as the breakout spaces which proudly showcase reclaimed railway planks, and furnishing selections chosen for their high recycled content.
Impressively, REC also converts all its food waste into nutrient-rich compost, which is then donated to a local community garden. The passionate REC crew are just as eager about imparting their eco expertise to help hosts reach their sustainability goals, too – including a free guide that outlines their top ten tips for holding a sustainable event.
Combining environmentally conscious practices with leading-edge facilities? We think you’ll a-green, Robina Events Centre sets an impressive new standard for functions on the GC.
Where: Robina Events Centre, Level 4, TAFE Queensland, Robina Campus, 94 Laver Drive, Robina
When: Monday to Saturday, 6:30am – Late
Website: www.robinaeventscentre.com.au
Instagram: @robinaeventscentre
Words by Kellie Leader.
STORY SPONSORED BY ROBINA EVENT CENTRE.
Seal the deal with a FriYAY lunch to impress!
Let’s be real – the best deals are done over a delicious meal and a glass of vino…or, ahem, a bottle…or 2, or…. (you get the gist).
Here is a list of local places we think fit the bill as must-do Friday biz lunch destinations, for you to chew the fat with your clients and colleagues, and finish the week off on the right note!
Let’s unpack this, from north to south….
Mr P.P.’s Deli and Rooftop
Anyone who works in or around Southport will tell you this little rooftop gem is a bona fide crowd-pleaser and client woo-er (we just made up a word!). A gourmet pizza from here is legendary, and their delicious drinks menu will have you asking “but do we really need to go back to the office this afternoon?”. We’ll answer that one for you, no, no you don’t….
Where: 43 Nerang Street, Southport
Glass Dining and Lounge Bar
With a no-expense-spared fit-out and a priceless view overlooking the water at Marina Mirage, Glass is a no-brainer for your Friday business pow-wow…with just the right amount of fancy. It delivers a five-star feed every time with quality produce, meats, fresh seafood, and an equally showstopping wine and cocktail list. Scoring an A+ for service, it’s another home run for The Gennari Group.
Where: Marina Mirage, 74 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach
Edgewater Dining
If you haven’t experienced an end-of-week business lunch at Edgewater Dining, drop everything and book a table! The stunning water views are good for the soul and the modern Australian cuisine menu infused with Italian goodness is off the richter. If a liquid lunch is more your jam (same) the drinks menu is lit, and we’re drinking Edgy Lychee Martinis all arvo long.
Where: Shop 3, Capri on Via Roma, Isle of Capri
Miss Moneypenny’s
I mean, who doesn’t love this joint! Miss Moneypenny’s has become quite the local fave, always filled with Gold Coasters seeking their hit of fresh seafood and creative cocktails (yes please…and yes please). Perfect for your Friday meeting-come-cocktails sesh, make it an extra loooong lunch and experience Oysters and Spritzers from 3pm, with $2.50 oysters and a refreshing seasonal spritzer!
Where: 50 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
Mamasan Kitchen + Bar
If it’s modern Asian flavour you and the team are after, Masaman Kitchen + Bar is where it’s at. With a focus on the share food philosophy, encompassing small intimate bites and banquet-style dining, renowned Chef Ray Choi delivers! Mixed with a zesty, Asian inspired cocktail list, international beers, wines, spirits and sake (obvi), this multi-award winner is a Friday afternoon fave.
Where: 3 Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach
Social Eating House + Bar
It’s difficult to go past a multi-award winner like this. Sitting the benchmark (REALLY) high, Social Eating House + Bar is the logical choice for your next end-of-week wind-down treat. With an extensive international tapas and sharesies menu, all meticulously curated by Head Chef YK get stuck into the likes of Roast Quail and the mind-blowing Lamb Shoulder. Wash it down with cocktails-a-plenty and you’ve got yourself a biz lunch to remember.
Where: Shop 137-138 Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach
Nineteen at The Star
Experience Nineteen at The Star’s stunning new menu for your next Friday business lunch (kudos from your colleagues for this one!), or sip cocktail after cocktail with a view of the glittering Gold Coast in the uber-chic lounge bar. Combining sublime sophistication with a cool coastal flair and the freshest seasonal produce, let Chef Uday Huja’s exquisite dishes from his signature a la carte and set menus wow one and all!
Where: The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach
Rick Shores
Want to impress a client? Two words; Rick Shores. A meal here will woo the pants off anyone (hopefully not literally…), as you take in the sea breeze with 180-degree ocean views in one of the GC’s most iconic locations. The Pan-Asian flavours and fresh, locally sourced produce, the share-friendly meals are always next level and sorry, we can’t even pick a fave dish to highlight because they’re all our faves. The cocktails are equally on point, as is the service. Pure magic.
Where: Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads
The Tropic
Friday lunches at Burleigh Pavilion’s The Tropic are something we could get used to. Surrounded by sun and sea-spray, this relaxed but premium dining experience manifests a fresh Mediterranean and Modern Australian menu and OMG, you just have to try the Goldband Snapper. Soak up the on-trend pastel interior, uninterrupted ocean views and impressive drinks menu, and enjoy the transition into weekend mode.
Where: Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads
Siblings Kirra
The newest luxe restaurant to open on the Goldy has turned heads since it opened in January and is guaranteed to please you and those you take there. (Not only with the scenery that surrounds you but with their drool-worthy share-style menu too!) Oh, and if your client (or client-to-be) are partial to a tipple or two, you are in good hands with the Sibling’s crew. You have endless choices as part of their ‘Liquid Journey’ menu. (Yep, what a name right?!) Cheers to wheeling and dealing!
Where: 15 Marine Parade, Coolangatta
Words by Bianca Trathen.
This ‘burb has all the bells and whistles.
Pop quiz! Where’s one place on the Gold Coast, where you can shop till you drop, eat your body weight in quality nosh, wander amongst stunning natural parklands and more? It’s Robina! There’s also a hospital and train station, but unfortunately, they’re not exciting enough to make our list.
Here are 18 things that are exciting enough to make our list.
Say ciao to Robina’s (perhaps, Gold Coast’s) most authentic and downright delicious pasta joint! The artisan pasta boutique store is brought to us by a European mother and daughter duo – how could it not be? Made with high-quality durum wheat semolina (rich in fibre, protein, vitamin B, and also digestion-friendly), their fresh-as pasta can be paired with a selection of their no-nasties, slow-cooked sauces. The best!
Where: Easy T Centre, 514 Christine Avenue, Robina
The Euro food tour continues at My French Pastries- a slice of Paris right in Robina. They deliver made-from-scratch croissants, tarts, and decadent desserts, with each pastry crafted with high-quality ingredients that keep locals coming back for more (and more and more). Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat.
Where: Shop 5, 4226/361 Robina Pkwy, Robina
Home of our beloved Titans, CBUS Super Stadium is one of the best regional stadiums in Australia and it’s ours, all ours (insert wicked snigger). Not only do Gold Coasters spend their weekends cheering on the boys here, but we’ve also been lucky enough to watch A-league and international football games, the Nitro Circus, and the Rugby 7s as part of the Commonwealth Games. High five to CBUS for being our homegrown hub of sporting joy.
Where: Centreline Place, Robina
An intimate 24-seat Asian bar and restaurant offering a modern take on Southeast Asian cuisine. The menu showcases creative dishes from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, inspired by vibrant street food flavours and regional classics. With its cosy setting, flavour-packed plates and a Chef Hat from the Australian Good Food Guide for 2025, it’s a top pick for both date nights and group dining.
Where: 44 Commerce Dr, Robina
She’s smart, she’s stunning- she’s Bond University. Yes, Robina is home to the prestigious and world-class institution that helps current and future generations reach their biggest goals! Bond combines innovative teaching, a supportive campus community, and beautiful surroundings to create an inspiring study environment.
Where: 14 University Drive, Robina
The spacious, sports-themed bar and restaurant made a big splash on Robina Town Centre when it first moved in and continues to do so in 2023. Within The Sporting Globe there are no less than 50 high definition screens including two 5m2 screens and a nine-screen video wall, so yeah nah, you’re not missing a single second of the action. They’re also serving up perfect sport-watching food, frosty bronsons galore, and an all-round cracking good atmosphere. It’s a sure thing.
Where: The Promenade, Robina Town Centre, Robina
Calling all dog lovers! This expansive dog park is the perfect place for your furry friend to run, play, and socialise safely. With plenty of open space and shaded areas, it’s ideal for a weekend outing with your four-legged family members.
Where: Lot 21 Robina Pkwy, Clear Island Waters
A vibrant café serving wholesome, flavour-packed meals crafted from fresh, local ingredients. Harvest Foodhouse is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a relaxed lunch, with mouthwatering options like lamb shoulder tacos, cauliflower steak with a white bean hummus, loaded savoury croissants and triple-choc waffles. You’re gonna need to make a few trips.
Where: 361 Robina Parkway, Robina
The playground to end all playgrounds! Greenheart Robina Parklands is a 22.5-hectare wonderland with towering slides, net bridges, trampolines, swings, water play, and a toddler zone, all fully fenced with an onsite café (hallelujah). Kids can pedal off to the bike track with humps, bumps, and traffic signs, while parents chill under shady umbrellas. Add in walking paths, a boardwalk, half basketball court and a dog park, and you’ve got the ultimate family day out.
Where: Stadium Dr, Robina
A tried and tested (regularly. Very regularly….) favourite, Robina Pav features a sleek look’n’feel, dreamy deck overlooking the water, a specialised kids area, and plenty of good vibes. Boasting a menu packed with epic eats from woodfired pizzas to stacked burgers, it would be rude not to get involved with the impressive cocktail menu #IfWeMust. It’s the perfect spot for sun-soaked afternoon sessions with you posse.
Where: 229 Ron Penhaligon Way, Robina
A modern Australian rooftop bar and restaurant, Green Fields serves up flavour-packed dishes with a focus on quality produce and sustainability. The stylish rooftop setting makes it ideal for enjoying a meal while taking in the Robina skyline.
Where: 94 Laver Dr, Robina
A yakitori-focused Japanese-Korean grill in Robina, known for its smoky binchotan charcoal skewers. The menu features wagyu beef, free-range chicken, veggie options, and fresh seafood, paired with Japanese whisky, beer, and wine. Perfect for casual dinners or a night out.
Where: 126/128 Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina
If open spaces and oodles of greenery, in the middle of a city no less, is your thing (yes please), Cheltenham Park is the business. There are plenty of areas for the kids – human and fury – to run themselves ragged (#yeahmums!) bushwalking tracks, and big leafy trees to stretch out beneath with a picnic and your favourite people. Perfect for escaping the rat race without chewing through the petrol in search of a tree change.
Where: Cheltenham Drive, Robina
Cocoflufferia by Goji is the all-new dessert wonderland, where dairy-free decadence meets a candy-land of toppings! Grab a bowl of their light and fluffy vegan soft serve, then go crazy with a line-up of delicious toppings like pistachio kanufa, Bueno, pistachio and Nutella sauce, Biscoff crumbs, mini mochi, M&Ms and fresh fruits!
Where: Robina Town Centre, Robina
Step into a world of optical illusions and interactive 3D art. Artvo is not only visually stunning but also a playground for your imagination, offering endless photo opportunities and fun for all ages.
Where: Ground Floor, Near the Kitchens, next to Lush, Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina
Riva is the home of sleek and stylish premium workspaces that make the 9-to-5 grind feel…well, less grindy. They’re designed to foster productivity and creativity by combining comfort, style, and convenience, with both private and co-working options.
Where: 2/14 Edgewater Court, Robina
Small Fry offers a modern twist on classic Australian seafood. One of their signature dishes is the Bug Bao– lightly battered bug meat in a steamed bun with coleslaw, chilli, shallots, lime, and sriracha mayo. Don’t walk, run! Pair that with a serve of their Family Parmesan and Truffle Fries, and damnnnnn!
Where: 273 Scottsdale Drive, Robina
Your most Instagrammable matcha moments await at Matcha Therapy- where everything is made with ceremonial grade matcha powder from Uji, Japan. Sit, sip and shop your way through matcha heaven.
Where: 129 Laver Drive, Robina
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
Let the ETC team handle your hiring process.
Ask any business owner the pain point of their business and recruitment is sure to rank highly (alongside a hearty disdain for uncooperative technology… we’re looking at you, printer poltergeists).
And whether you’ve had it up to here *insert impassioned accompanying gesture* or just need a helping HR hand with hiring staff on the Gold Coast, it may be time to consider engaging some local experts, enter – the highly equipped team at Enterprise and Training Company (ETC). A name that has been in the biz of supporting businesses with their staffing needs for some 30 years now.
With six locations across the Coast, you might already be familiar with the ubiquitous red and blue ETC cropping up around the place, but perhaps less so with the array of benefits on offer for both employees – and employers.
Not unlike our own staffing services fairy godmother, ETC is here to help us through the realm of all things recruitment, calling upon their pool of local talent and prowess as seasoned employment matchmakers to find the best fit for your business.
Though with a name that encompasses all things ‘employment, training and community’ (et cetera)… ETC is a more than simply connecting employers with suitable candidates, offering a one-stop shop of services to assist businesses on a broader basis with their hiring needs.
ETC is also able to handle pre-employment processes, such as assessment, interviewing, and background checks to provide qualified candidates. All of which offers untold time and money savings which will absolutely be music to any busy business owner’s ears.
So with those very beneficial advantages of working with ETC established, let’s get familiar with the local Gold Coast team of friendly faces, shall we?
Ilona Tulia
Regional Recruitment Manager, based in the Gold Coast
Covers the Gold Coast and NSW North Coast
Ensuring the Gold Coast ETC network runs like a well oiled machine, Ilona boasts a stacked CV of her own with 14 years of experience in the employer engagement arena.
As one of the big kahunas, Ilona plays a pivotal role at ETC: overseeing the passionate and enthusiastic team of recruitment specialists, while also working with national employers to deliver her signature specialty – a “holistic recruitment approach”.
Adele Tasi
Recruitment Account Manager, based in Southport
Covers the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads
If you’re seeking someone passionate about a community-focused approach to engaging with businesses and job seekers alike – hellooo… it’s Adele you’re looking for.
As a highly experienced Youth Worker, Recruitment Adviser and Mother of four – Adele, aka the busiest of bees, has channelled her unwavering passion for helping people into a rewarding career in recruitment services, after previously working with region’s most High-Risk Youth in residential homes.
Michelle Bissett
Recruitment Support Manager, based in Nerang
Covers the Gold Coast and Brisbane
Meet Michelle, a Recruitment Support Manager with over 10 years experience in employment services, bringing to the team her wealth of knowledge from across multiple sectors within recruitment and training – with certificates and certifications out the wazoo to prove it.
Michelle is the ETC expert closely liaising with local Jobs Program facilitators, providers and local community organisations – also channeling her prowess into leading pre-employment programs with the PA Hospital, the QEII Hospital and ETC’s Training team.
Sean Nicholson
Recruitment Advisor, based in Nerang
Covers the Northern Gold Coast
Sean is just one of ETC’s resident Recruitment Advisors, tasked with providing the pivotal service of connecting job seekers and employers across the Northern Gold Coast.
Equipped with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science and 24 years experience across multiple employment and training services sectors, Sean’s knack for exploring the hidden job market and matching skills with employer needs, is second to none.
Stav Giouzelis
Recruitment Advisor, based in Southport
Covering Southport, Miami, Palm Beach and Tweed Heads
Venturing a little further from the border, connecting candidates and opportunities across the Southern and Central GC is in Recruitment Advisor Stav’s expert hands.
With a background as an Educator and Youth Worker, Stav’s penchant for helping others is now being put to work helping people find pathways to success through employment opportunities. As a cheerleader for her clients, she advocates for them to never give up on their dreams.
Tracy Coster
Recruitment Adviser, based in Nerang
Covering the Gold Coast
Northern GC based Tracy is another friendly face among ETC’s team of passionate Recruitment Advisors. With industry experience spanning 15 years, Tracy has a rock solid reputation for working with businesses to help enrich their workforce by presenting potential candidates who would be a great fit for their business.
Tracy diligently works with businesses to understand a potential employer’s business in-depth to present suitable candidates even when there is no job but who would be a great fit for their business (Culture fit + skill match).
Aileen Wallace
Work Experience Coordinator
Covering Tweed Heads to Coomera and Wivenhoe
Another invaluable asset to the team, seasoned employment pro Aileen has been part of the ETC furniture for some 8 years now. As one of the Work Experience Coordinators, Aileen’s passion for helping people on their career path has largely been dedicated to working within the Work For the Dole (WfD) program alongside Not for Profit organisations, by providing participants and assisting them in the wider Gold Coast community.
Words by Kellie Leader.
STORY SPONSORED BY ETC.
